Schwarzer turned 40 in October so is clearly nearing the end of his distinguished career. After leaving Marconi Stallions, the Sydney born keeper played in Germany for Dynamo Dresden and Kaiserslautern before being snapped up by Bradford City.
He impressed sufficiently in just 13 outings for the Bantams to be offered a deal at Middlesbrough. Following 12 season and 367 league appearances for Boro, Schwarzer joined Fulham and is now in his fifth season at Craven Cottage.
25-year-old Ben Hamer is established as Charlton’s number one keeper and is a firm favourite with the fans. It would take a good offer to prise him away from The Valley. Hamer was recruited by Reading from Crawley Town but failed to make a league appearance for the Royals during his five year stay at the Madejski.
Ben was loaned to Brentford and missed just one game in the 2008/09 season. He was loaned out again during the 2010/11 season when he made a further 10 appearances for Brentford plus 18 for Exeter.
Hamer was signed by the Addicks in the summer of 2011 to replace the Newcastle bound Rob Elliot.
The story is obviously speculative but Hamer has impressed this season. Following laser surgery to his eyes during the summer, he has developed into a far more assured and assertive keeper.
One person who will be more interested than most in the story is Schwarzer’s long time understudy, David Stockdale. Now 27, the Leeds born stopper is also – like Hamer – familiar with the loan circuit. Stockdale joined the Cottagers at the same time as Scwarzer in the summer of 2008,but the Australian’s imperious form has restricted him to just 15 Premier League appearances.